Our latest press releases on important news and events relating to immigration detention in the United States
For media inquiries contact: media@detentionwatchnetwork.org
Washington, D.C. — The National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) and Detention Watch Network (DWN) condemn the Biden administration’s move this week to expand its use of private prisons for immigrant detention and demand that the president reverse course quickly to abide by his campaign promises to end the use of for-profit immigrant detention centers.
Washington, DC — Today, Detention Watch Network, FIRM Action, Mijente, United We Dream and the We Are Home campaign coordinated a “Communities Not Cages'' National Day of Action with 25 actions taking place across the country hosted by local partners, including a press conference and rally in Washington, DC (watch the livestream here).
Washington, DC — Today, 131 organizations published a statement for the Biden administration outlining the top immigration priorities that must be included in the country’s budget for Fiscal Year 2023.
As the Biden administration begins crafting next year's budget, advocates are sending a strong message that it is long past time for the United States to redirect government funding away from draconian enforcement measures and invest in legal services and community-based programming that enhance our communities’ safety and well-being.
North Dartmouth, MA — Today, the FANG Collective and Detention Watch Network are celebrating the news that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will cut the contract at the Bristol County Detention Center in Massachusetts. Along with the end of the Irwin Detention Center contract in Georgia, also announced today, this is the first time ICE has cut a contract for a detention center in recent years.
Ocilla, Georgia — Today, Project South, Georgia Detention Watch, GLAHR, South Georgia Immigrant Support Network, and Detention Watch Network are celebrating the news that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will cut the contract for the Irwin County Detention Center (Irwin) in Ocilla, Georgia.
Washington, DC — Today, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced it will cut the contracts of two detention facilities, Irwin County Detention Center in Ocilla, Georgia, and the Bristol County Detention Center in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts. Irwin is the first detention center in Detention Watch Network’s “First Ten to Communities Not Cages” campaign, launched in February, to be on the path to closure.
Washington, DC — Detention Watch Network is sounding the alarm that the number of people in Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) detention system has seen a sudden spike under the Biden administration. ICE’s COVID statistics webpage indicates that there are 20,430 people in ICE custody as of May 14, a nearly 33 percent increase since the start of Biden’s administration when there were 15,415 people in ICE custody.
Washington, DC — Communities Not Cages: A Just Transition from Immigration Detention Economies, a new report from Detention Watch Network, examines the role of immigration detention in local economies and outlines a vision for a just transition away from economies dependent on detention centers.
Ocilla, Georgia — Today Project South, Georgia Detention Watch, GLAHR, South Georgia Immigrant Support Network and Detention Watch Network are celebrating the news that no immigrant women are currently detained at the Irwin County Detention Center (Irwin) in Georgia as verified by groups on the ground.
Washington, DC — In response to the Biden administration’s first 100 days in office, Silky Shah, Executive Director of Detention Watch Network (DWN) offered the following statement:
